Cancellation & Appeals

Housing Appeals

The purpose of the Housing Appeals process is to provide students with an unbiased review of their dispute of housing and/or meal plan charges, requirements, or policies. The Housing Appeals Committee will review submitted appeals for any housing and/or meal plan related financial charges, requirements, or policies according to this process.

What you need to know about the housing appeals process:

• Submitting a Housing Appeal does not mean your appeal will be granted.
• Housing appeals are reviewed weekly. We make every effort to review them as quickly as possible, but do not guarantee that you will receive a decision immediately. Assuming all documentation is in order, it is our goal to complete appeal reviews by no more than 7 days after submission. Additionally, times that the university is closed or on break may also delay this process.
• Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Failure to provide adequate rationale and supporting documentation may result in the delay of your request being considered or denial of your appeal. Supporting documentation is required. Examples of supporting documentation are financial documentation, letters of support, transcript information, and/or legal notifications.
• All terms, conditions, and related fees in the housing license must be followed until the committee has sent you a written approval for your appeal.
• The appeal must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the specified charge being posted to the student's account.

The appeals process is NOT for the following:

• Room Changes
• Community Standard Concerns
• Requests for Emotional Support Animals
• Damage Charge Appeals
• Setting up Payment Plans or requesting payment extensions

These all have other forms or processes to complete and are not to be submitted as a Housing Appeal. Please email housing@humboldt.edu for assistance with these issues.

How to submit an appeal:

• Go to the myHousing portal. The Appeals Form can be found under Forms.
• Complete the form and provide a detailed explanation as to the reason for your appeal. 
• Upload any necessary documentation that you feel will best support your request. This may include financial documentation, letters of support, transcript information, and/or legal notifications.
• After the committee meets and makes a decision, you will be notified by email of the committee’s decision.

Fees not eligible for refund:

• Housing Application Fee
• Installment Plan Service Charge
• Credit Card Service Fees
• Occupancy Fees (Students will not be refunded room or meal plan charges for nights they or their belongings occupied the space).

Provide Supporting Documentation

Every Appeal must be accompanied supporting documentation. While the supporting documentation listed below are the minimum requirements for the submission and consideration of an Appeal, it is required that additional information outlining the significant and unforeseen change of circumstances is provided to the Appeals Committee. 

For every appeal that is submitted, the Appeals Committee looks at the documents presented to them and tries to answer the question, "What was the extraordinary cause, or serious, compelling and unforeseen medical or financial circumstance that the Licensee has encountered since the License Agreement was signed that prevents them from fulfilling their contractual obligations as outlined in the agreed-to terms and conditions of their License Agreement.” Therefore, it is often best to provide ‘too much’ dated documented evidence rather than ‘too little’. All appeals documentation is kept strictly confidential.

The Appeals Committee cannot inform you what to provide as each situation is individual. The Appeals Committee will have no knowledge of your situation other than the information you provide. Submitting factual documentation and detailed timelines in relation to the License Agreement may be helpful to the committee and explaining your situation in requesting an appeal. The Appeals Committee makes recommendations to the Director for review.

Medical Hardship Appeals

Appeals for medical hardship are to be approved only if the Appeals Committee decides that the medical situation cannot be supported at an alternate location in campus housing. If the Appeals Committee determines that a vacancy exists on campus that adequately addresses or mitigates the condition, a room change will be arranged, and the appeal will be denied. If the Committee is unable to determine that a significant and unforeseen/unavoidable change in medical circumstance has occurred, the appeal will likely be denied.

If your medical appeal is disability-related, you must register your disability with the University by contacting the Campus Disability Resource Center (CDRC). Medical appeals require written documentation from a physician or licensed mental health counselor (may not be a relative of the Licensee) confirming the medical situation as described in the appeal. This documentation should clearly state the type of accommodations that would assist in mitigating the condition (such as no carpet, no curtains, etc.) and should be on letterhead with the physician's signature and contact information.

Types of medical documented evidence that may strengthen an appeal includes, but is not limited to:

• Medical recommendation from physician's office on letterhead.
• Other documented evidence that shows a clear change in condition since signing the License Agreement that affects the Licensee's ability to live on campus.

Financial Hardship Appeals

To appeal on grounds of financial hardship, Licensees must provide additional written documentation to support the claim of a significant and unforeseen/unavoidable change in financial circumstance that prohibits them from fulfilling their License Agreement obligations. Evidence of an alternate, less expensive housing arrangement does not qualify for a successful appeal and release from the License Agreement. Failure to maintain grade point averages, causing a loss of financial aid does not constitute a successful appeal.

If the Appeals Committee is unable to determine that a serious, compelling, and unforeseen financial circumstance occurred, the appeal will likely be denied.

Types of financial documented evidence that may strengthen an appeal includes, but is not limited to:

• Checking account statements before and after the significant change of circumstance. 
• Dated proof of unemployment or loss of employment on letterhead and signed by previous employer. 
• Official Financial Aid statements.
• Other documented evidence that shows a clear change in financial circumstance that occurred since signing the License Agreement.

Please see the License Agreement, under "Cancellations/Revocations and Refund Policy" for a more detailed explanation of the notice requirements and penalties involved.

Please contact housing@humboldt.edu with any inquiries regarding the appeals process.